Cap manipulating machine for molds



Sept. 20, 1955 J. H. CAIN CAP MANIPU-LATING MACHINE "FOR MOLDS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1952 INVENTOR.

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P 0, 1955 J. H. CAIN CAP MANIPULATINGMACHINE FOR MOLDS '5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 27. 1952 INVENTOR. JOSEPH CAl/Y Sept. 20, 1955 J. H. CAIN v2,718311 I CAP MANIPULATING MACHINE FOR MOLDS Filed March 27. 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 3 5 80 is if INVENTOR. JOIEP/l Ii CA //Y Sept. 20, 1955 JCNN CAP MANIPULATING MACHINE FOR MOLDS Filed March 27, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 5 F1 HQ 1 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent CAP MANIPULATING MACHINE FOR MOLDS Joseph H. Cain,Norristown, Pa.

Application March 27, 1952, Serial No. 278,890

Claims. (Cl. 212-4) The present invention has to do with a machinedesigned for the purpose of manipulating caps that are commonly appliedto the molds that are used in casting steel ingots, and is concernedprimarily with a machine which places the operator in a remote positionrelative to a particular mold that is being capped or having the capremoved therefrom.

The practice of capping the molds in which steel ingots are cast is nowstandardized and looked upon as a conventional, necessary step in thesteel industry. This capping is required because it confines gases fromthe molten steel within the mold, and the pressure of the gases forcesthe molten steel down into the mold so that there is only a smalldepression or cavity at the top of the ingot, the remainder of the ingotbeing substantially homogeneous throughout. Without the capping, a long,narrow cavity that extends an appreciable distance is formed.

In accordance with the practice that is prevalent throughout the steelindustry, a workman avails himself of an overhead crane in placing a capon a mold and in re moving a cap therefrom. Such an overhead craneordinarily presents a chain at the lower end of which there is a hookwhich must be applied to the cap and removed therefrom, as occasiondemands. With this arrangement, it is evident that the workman ofnecessity, must be in close proximity to the particular mold to whichthe cap is being applied or removed therefrom. This close proximity is adangerous liability and often results in serious injury to the workman.

This is particularly true in the removing of a cap from a mold. If theremoval should be even slightly premature, the gases which have beenconfined within the mold, upon release, will blow out molten metal whichupon contact with the workman, causes serious injury.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in viewas its foremost objective, the provision of a machine which may beutilized by an operator for the purpose of manipulating mold caps andwhich machine inherently locates the operator at a position remote fromthe particular mold that is either being capped or having the capremoved therefrom.

In the modern steel mill, a large number of the molds which are used incasting steel ingots, are ordinarily arranged in a long row, andadjacent to this rowof molds, there is a working platform. A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a cap manipulating machine of thecharacter indicated which includes as an essential element, a carriagethat is adapted to travel along tracks provided on the working platformadjacent to the row of molds.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide in a capmanipulating machine of the type aforesaid, which includes a movablecarriage, a boom and swivel post assembly with the outer free end of theboom having suspended therefrom, a pivot support for a dolly bar. Oneend of this dolly bar carries a hook that is adapted to engage a moldcap, while the other end Patented Sept. 20, 1955 ice of the dolly bar isprovided with a handle which is adapted to be grasped by an operator formanipulating purposes.

As a series of molds are either capped or de-capped, it is necessarythat the carriage move along its tracks, the workman following thecarriage in this movement. Thus, another highly important object of thisinvention is to provide in a cap manipulating machine of the characterindicated, an electric motor drive for the carriage with a controlswitch for the motor being included in the handle of the dolly bar whereit is conveniently accessible to the thumb of the operator, so that thedrive may be started or discontinued as occasion demands by theoperator, while his hands still grasp the dolly bar handle. 7

Due to the fact that the movement of the carriage is accompanied by thewalking of the operator, the drive includes a gear reduction unit forcausingthe carriage to move at a speed that is properly co-related tothe walking of the operator.

Another somewhat more detailed object of the invention is to provide ina cap manipulating machine of the type aforesaid, a hanger which issuspended at its upper end from the free end of the boom by a swivelconnection having a vertical axis and which hanger carries at its lowerend a fork having a horizontal pivot support for the dolly bar. Withthis arrangement, universal movement of the dolly bar is permitted.

The cap of a steel mold is a heavy and massive affair. Hence, provisionmust be made for the operator to support the cap in a suspendedposition, under conditions of mechanical advantage. This end is achievedby properly locating the pivot support of the dolly bar, with respect tothe ends thereof. The dolly bar functions as a lever and with the shortend of the lever carrying the hook which supports the cap, the longerend of the lever which is engaged by the operator will afford therequired mechanical advantage.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention,such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in apractical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part behereinafter stated, as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a machine intended to be used inmanipulating the caps of steel molds and which machine consistsessentially of a movable motor driven carriage from which upstands aswivel post carrying a boom with a hanger suspended from the outer freeend of the boom, and which hanger pivotally supports a dolly bar havinga cap engaging hook at one end and a handle at the other end, with acontrol switch included in the handle.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, referencemay be had to the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cap manipulating machinethat is designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention andis operatively mounted on a working platform adjacent to a row of molds.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the machine with a portion ofthe working platform shown in section.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation taken normal to the showing ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed view taken as a top plan of the handleof the dolly bar.

Figure 5 is another detailed view taken on an enlarged scale showing thedolly bar in side elevation with the dolly bar broken away.

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of the handle end of the dolly barwith the handle being broken away.

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the cap engaging hook per se.

Figure 8 is a detailed section through the bill of the hook being takenabout on the plane represented by the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9. is a view in side elevation of the swivel post and boomassembly with the boom being broken away.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detailed view partly in elevation and partly insection of the swivel mounting at the lower end of the post. This viewis taken about on the plane represented by the line lit-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 of the swivel connection at theupper end of the post and is taken about on the plane represented by theline 1-1-11 of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detailed view takenas a front elevation ofthe,hanger per se with the hanger bar broken away.

Figure 13. is a. detailed view in elevation of the upper end of thehanger bar and the swivel connection thereat, this view being takennormal to. the showing of Figure 12.

Figure 1.4. is a detailed section. taken about on the plane representedby the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts, and first more particularly to Figure 1, thoseportions of a steel mill which are pertinent to the claimed capmanipulating machine are shown as including a row of molds 10 in each ofwhich a steel ingot is adapted to be cast.

Each of the molds 10 has an open, upper end that is closed by a cap 11.It will be noted that each cap 11 has upstanding from its top face, arib 12 formed with a transverse opening 13 centrally thereof. It is thisopening 13 which receives the bill of a hook carried by the dolly bar,as will be later described.

The molds 10 are arranged in a row along side of a working platformindicated at 14. The top surface of this platform 14 is provided with apair of spaced tracks 15 which take the form of conventional rails. Atthe side of the platform remote from the row of molds 10 and spacedabove the upper surface of the platform 14, are a pair of power mains 16which assume a direction substantially parallel to the rails 15. Themachine of this invention is intended to travel over the. rails 15 withthe power for its movement being taken from the mains 16.

The machine includes as an essential element, a carn'age which isreferred to in its entirety by the reference character C. This carriageC comprises a flat body 17 from which depend side flanges 18 and endflanges 19. Carried by the side flanges 18, are journals 20 with eachpair of journals on the opposite flanges receiving a shaft 21. Eachshaft 21 carries a pair of wheels 22 which ride on the rails 15 in awell known manner.

At the side of the carriage C remote from the molds 10, the side flange18 carries a side extension 23. Mounted on this extension 23 is a gearreduction unit 24 which is drivably connected to one of the shafts 21which is in alignment therewith. The wheels 22 on this shaft 21,

are also drivably mounted thereon so that a driving relation isestablished between the gear reduction unit 24 and the wheels 22 on.this shaft 21. Gear reduction units of this type are now well known andavailable as such on the open market. The present invention is notconcerned with the details of this gear reduction unit and they are,therefore, neither illustrated nor described.

The side extension 23, also. carries an electric motor 25,

the drive shaft of which is operatively connected to thegear reductionunit 24. by the coupling shown at 26. Thus, the motor 25 drives the gearreduction unit 24. Upstanding from the outer side .of the side extension23 is a channel bar 27, the upper end of which carries a table 28 thatis located immediately beneath .the power mains, 16. A pantograph or;similar device (not illustrated) is carried by the table 28 and engages.the power mains 16 so as to takev power therefrom which is delivered tothe motor 25.

Upstanding from the main body 17 of the carriage C at the side adjacentto the extension 23, is supporting structure which is referred to in itsentirety by the reference character S. This supporting structure Scomprises two vertical standards 29 and 30. The standard 29 is supportedby the inclined braces 31 and 32, While the standard 30 is supported bythe braces 33 and 34. The standard 29 and its braces 31 and 32, meet atthe topwhile the standard 30 and its braces 33 and 34 also meet at thetop. Extending across the tops of the standards 29 and 3t) and securedto the upper ends thereof, is a bridge 36 which may have the upstandingside flanges illustrated, whereby it is adapted to carry certainarticles such as electric resistors.

A swivel post is mounted between the standards 29 and 30 in a verticalposition. This swivel post is referred to in its entirety by thereference character P. its lower end is pivotally connected to the mainbody 17 of the carriage C and its upper end is pivotally connected tothe bridge 36. Referringnow to Figures 9, l0, and 11, the swivel post Pand its pivotal connections will be described in detail.

The main body portion of the post P, which is identified by thereference character 37, is of tubular construction and carries atrunnion 38 at its lower end and another trunnion 39 at its upper end. Ajournal block 40 is secured to the carriage body 17 in any preferredmanner and this block is formed with a recess 41. Communicating with therecess 41 is a lubricant passage 42, having a lubricating fitting 43 atits outer end. Received in the lower end of the recess 41 and oppositeto the inner end of the passage 4-2 is a bearing assembly 44. The lowerfree end of the trunnion 38 is reduced as indicated at 45, and thisreduced end is received within the bearing assembly 44. A complementaljournal block 46 has a bore 47 in alignment with the. recess 41 andthrough which the trunnion 38. passes. The journal block 46 may besecured inposition on the block 40 in any preferred manner such as bythe screw bolts shown at 48.

Secured to the under face of the bridge 36 in any preferred manner suchas by screw bolts 49 is a top journal block 50 having a bore 51 whichreceives the trunnion 39. From the foregoing it is apparent that thereare swivel connections at the upper and lower ends of the swivel post P,with the swivel connection at the lower end being provided withbearings.

Outstanding from the upper end of the main body portion 37 of the swivelpost P is a boom 52 which preferably is tubular. The inner end of thisboom 52 may be connected to the post P in any preferred manner, such asby a welded joint indicated at 53. A diagonal brace 54 has its lower endconnected to the lower end of the post P in any preferred manner as bywelding indicated at 55 and its upper end to the journal 52 as indicatedat 56. Depending from the journal 52 at its outer free end, is a bracket57 formed with an opening 58.

Suspended from the bracket 57 is a hanger which is referred to in itsentirety by the reference character H. Referring now more particularlyto Figures 12, 13, and 14, the hanger H is shown as comprising a mainbody portion 59 in the form of a flat bar with the upper end of the bar59 taking the form of a cylindrical trunnion 60 that terminates in athreaded stud 61. Immediately below the trunnion 60 there is acylindrical embossment 62. A bearing bracket 63 has a bottom wall 64formed with a bore 65 that receives the trunnion 69. The top face of thebore 64 carries a bearing assembly 66 through which the trunnion 60 alsopasses. A nut 67 is threaded onto the stud 61 and maintains theassembled relation. A cotter pin shown at 68 passes through alignedpassages in the nut 67 and stud 61 to lock the nut in position.

The bearing bracket carries at its upper end a pair of complemental ears69 which engage the bracket 57. on the opposite sides thereof. Theseears 69 are formed with openings which align with the opening 58 and aheaded bolt 70 passes through the aligned openings. A nut 71 is screwedonto the threaded end of the bolt 70, and is locked in position by thepin 72.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a swivel connection having avertical axis is provided at the upper end of the hanger H.

Clamped against the opposite faces of the hanger bar 59 at the lower endthereof, are complemental pivot brackets 73. Bolt and nut assembliesshown at 74 may be employed in securing the pivot brackets 73 to thehanger bar 59. The pivot brackets 72 have outwardly offset portions 75,between which extend a pivot bolt 76. This pivot bolt 76 carries abearing sleeve 77 which is journalled therein. A spacing washer shown at78 may be located between each end of the bearing sleeve '77 and theinner face of the offset portion 75 of the bracket 73. A dolly bar 79 isof tubular construction and the bearing sleeve '77 extends transverselytherethrough and is secured thereto.

The dolly bar 79 is shown in detail in Figure 5. It is also clearlydepicted in Figures 1, 2, and 3. This dolly bar 79 is pivotally mountedon a horizontal axis at an appropriate point intermediate its ends bythe sleeve 77 and pivot bolt 76, the point being determined by themechanical advantage which is desired. At what might be called its outerend, that is the end which is intended to be disposed over the molds 10,the dolly bar 79 carries a vertically positioned eye bolt 80 presentingand eyelet 8]. Connected to this eyelet 81 is a hook 82 having a bill 83that is adapted to be received in an opening 13 of the rib 12 of the cap11.

It is evident that this eye bolt 80 is susceptible of angularadjustment, so that the bill of the hook will be presented in a positionmost favorable to its manipulation by an operator handling the other endof the dolly bar.

At the end remote from the eye bolt 80, the dolly bar 79 carries ahandle in the form of a transverse bar 84. This handle is adapted to begrasped by an operator standing on the platform 14 as illustrated inFigure 1.

The handle 84 is of tubular construction and just inside this handle,the dolly bar 79 is cut away as indicated at 85, in Figure 5, to providea recess for receiving a control switch 86. The control switch 86includes a control shaft 87 from which depends an arm 88. The lower endof this arm 88 carries an operating bar 89 which presents thumb engagingportions 90 at the opposite ends thereof.

It is evident that with an operator grasping the handle 84, with bothhis hands, either thumb may be conveniently moved into engagement withthe portion that is immediately adjacent thereto to rock the bar 89 andthus rotate the shaft 87 and thus operate the control switch 86.

Illustrating the foregoing invention as applied to an actual case, tolift a cast-iron mold cap weighing approximately 250 lbs., a dolly bar13 ft. long, made from 3 in. O. D. circular steel tubing, is pivotallysuspended from the hanger bar 59 on a horizontal axis so that a minorportion of the dolly bar 3 ft. 8 in. in length extends outwardly of saidpivot in the direction of the molds and a major portion 9 ft. 4 in. inlength extends inwardly of the pivot under the control of the operator,the ratio of the major portion to the minor portion of said dolly barabout said pivot forming the desired mechanical advantage for liftingthe cap. The boom 52 from which the dolly bar 79 is suspended ispreferably made from the same size tubing as the dolly bar, except thatit is 6 ft. 9 in. in length with 2 ft. 9 in. thereof extending outwardlybeyond the end of the platform.

Operation While the manner of using the cap manipulating machine of thisinvention is believed to be obvious from the illustrations of thedrawings and description of parts given, it may be briefly outlined asfollows.

It will first be assumed that the tops of all of the molds 10 are openand molten steel has been poured thereinto from a crucible in a wellknown manner. The caps 11 will be in position along one side of theworking platform 14. The operator standing on the platform grasps thehandle 84 with both his hands and manipulates the dolly bar 79 so as tocause the bill 83 of the hook 82 to engage in the opening 13 of the cap11.

By further manipulation this cap may be lifted from the surface on whichit rests and moved into position over the open top of a mold, whereuponit is lowered into position, closing the open top and the bill of thehook removed.

The operator may now operate the control switch 86 to cause the carriageC to travel into position for manipulating the next cap. This operationis repeated until the molds are capped, the operator moving down theline with the carriage.

After a required amount of time has elapsed, the operator again moves upthe line, removing each cap by manipulating the dolly bar and causingthe carriage C to travel, as occasion demands.

It is evident that the operator is at all times removed a safe distancefrom the particular mold on which he is working. Thus, any danger frominjury by the molten metal in that mold, is completely avoided.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbeforeset forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms, or devicesillustrated and described, because various modifications of thesedetails may be provided in putting the invention into practice withinthe purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for manipulating a mold cap, a movable carriage adaptedto move along a pair of rails, an electric motor and a gear reductionunit mounted on said carriage for driving the carriage, an uprightupstanding from said carriage and having means engaging power mains todeliver power to said motor, a swivel post upstanding from said carriageat one side thereof, a horizontal boom carried by said post, a hangersuspended from the free end of said boom by a swivel connection, a dollybar pivotally mounted on the lower end of said hanger on a horizontalaxis, a cap engaging hook at one end of said dolly bar, a handle in theform of a crosspiece at the other end of said dolly bar, and a controlswitch for said electric motor carried by said dolly bar in closeproximity to said handle.

2. In a machine for manipulating a mold cap, a movable carriage, anelectric motor and gear reduction unit carried by said carriage forcausing travel thereof, an upright upstanding from said carriage andhaving means engaging power mains to deliver power to said motor,supporting structure carried by said carriage and comprising a pair ofspaced standards, braces for said standards and a bridge spanning theupper ends of said standards; a swivel post mounted in a verticalposition between said standards having its lower end connected to saidcarriage by a swivel mounting, and its upper end to said bridge by aswivel mounting, a boom outstanding from said post, a hanger suspendedfrom the free end of said boom, a dolly bar pivotally mounted on thelower end of said hanger, a cap engaging hook at one end of said dollybar and a handle crosspiece at the other end of said dolly bar, and acontrol switch carried by said dolly bar in close proximity to saidhandle.

3. In a machine for manipulating a mold cap, a carriage movable along atrack and having a main body portion and a side extension, an electricmotor and gear reduction unit on said side extension for driving saidcarriage, means for taking power from power mains and delivering it tosaid motor, a horizontal boom mounted for swinging movement in ahorizontal plane on said main body of said carriage, a dolly barpivotally suspended from the free end of said boom, a cap engaging hookat one end of said dolly bar, a handle crosspiece 7 at the other end ofsaid dollybar, and a control'switch lfor said motor carried by saiddolly bar in close proximity to' saidhandle, and including an operatinglever adapted to be engaged by the thumbs of an operator grasping saidhandle.

4. in a machin for manipulating a mold cap, a carriage moveable along atrack and having a main body portion and a side extension; an electricmotor and gear reduction unit on said side extension for driving saidcarriage; means for taking power from power mains and delivering it tosaid motor; supporting structure carried by said carriage adjacent tosaid side extension compris irig two vertical standards, inclined bracessupporting said standards, and a bridge extending across the upper endso f said standard and having upstanding side flanges; a swivel postmounted in a vertical position between said standards having its lowerend connected to said carr'iage by a swivel mounting and its upper endto said bridge by a swivel mounting; a boom outstanding from said postand fixedly secured thereto; a hanger suspended from the freeend of saidboom by a swivel connection; a dolly bar pivotally mounted on the lowerend of said hanger; a cap engaging hook at one end of said dolly bar anda handle crosspiece at the other end of said dolly bar; and a controlswitch carried by said dolly bar in closeprdximity to said handle. 7

5. In a machine for manipulating a mold cap, a carriage moveable along atrack and having a main body portion and a side extension; an electricmotor and gear reduction unit onsaid side extension for driving saidcarriage; a channel bar upstanding from the side extension; a horizontaltable mounted on the upper end of said channel bar; means carried bysaid table for engaging power mains so as to take power therefrom and deliver it to the motor; supporting structure carried by said carriageadjacent to said side extension comprising two vertical standards,inclined braces supporting said standards, and a bridge extending acrossthe upper ends of said standard and having upstanding side flanges; aswivel post mounted in a vertical position between said standards havingits lower end connected to said carriage by a swivel mounting and itsupper end to said bridge by a swivel mounting; a boom outstanding fromsaid post and fixedly secured thereto; a hanger suspended from the freeend of said boom by a swivel connection; a dolly baipivotally mounted onthe lower end of said hanger; a cap engaging hook at one end of saiddolly bar and a handle crosspiece at the other end of said dolly bar;and a control switch carried by said dolly bar in close proximity tosaid handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES 23rd Open Hearth Proceedings, A. I. M. E., 1940, pages 274,275. (Copy in Division 3.)

